OSRC minutes_ 02.02.22 CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE: None
LOCATION: City Hall Council Chambers
DATE: February 2, 2022
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Alden-St. Pierre (Chair), David Brewster(Vice
Chair), Elizabeth Dunne, Charlie Mann, Wayne Miller,
Gregory Sharp, Todd Callaghan,Alison Dudley
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Marilyn McCrory
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Chelsea Zakas,Associate Planner
OTHERS PRESENT: Bruce Doig; Brandy Brouillette; Sebastian Brouillette; Jon
Paddol
RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury
1. Call to Order
Alden chairs and opens the meeting at 7:04 p.m.
Note, a this is a hybrid of virtual and in-person meetings allowed by extension (Act effective
June 16, 2021 thru April 1, 2022) of state Executive Order signed March 12, 2020 due to
COVID-19.
2. Members of the Public Opportunity to Address the Committee
a. Sebastian Brouillette, Troop 4,Beverly Boy Scouts
Sebastian Brouillette introduces himself to the committee. He is an Eagle Scout candidate
looking to complete a project. Brouillette proposes a project to improve and repair signage at the
Beverly Commons trails. Brouillette is a lifelong resident and read an article with people taking
down the signs. He thinks this would be a great project.
Alden and members discuss ideas to remedy removing trail signs, some of which Brouillette can
use for his project. Suggests painting trail blazes. Mann is open to maintaining the coloring and
numbering of the blazes. Sharp suggests spray paint and stencils to fix some of the numbered
signs. Alden and the members review standards for blazing in addition to the numbering system.
Sharp recalls the mayor had requested moving on from colored trails,however; Captain Matt
Hart, BFD and member would like a return to colored trails. Members settle on repainting the
numbers and setting the signs higher. Members determine this is within the scope of an Eagle
project and will confirm which trails have missing signs/numbers.
Miller brings to attention the many smaller trails, any attempt to color code them would be a
futile attempt. Miller reviews the current numbers. Miller does not advocate for color blazing the
trails. Miller advocates for an app what 3 words to pinpoint trail hiker's location. Brouillette
likes this project and will further coordinate with Zakas on where to paint and which trails to
blaze. Members agree with limiting the trails and maintaining primary colors. Not all trails will
be blazed. Members do not want to pollute the park with too much signage.
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Callaghan recommends a few members accompany Brouillette with a site walk to determine the
best areas for the project. The committee will provide maps to Brouillette and provide him with
scope of project. This project will be best completed in the spring. Zakas asked if he needs to
submit a project proposal to the local boy scout council. Brouillette will coordinate with his eagle
scout mentor and submit a proposal. He will share the proposal with Zakas. Zakas also inquires
about a time frame for project completion. Brouillette is looking to complete this project
spring/summer. He does not have a specific time frame.
Sidebar:
Alden notes another troop member reached out for a one-off project. The concept is trail
cleaning.
3. Approval of Minutes
a. January 5,2022
Minutes will be approved at the March 2022 meeting.
4. Open Space and Recreation Plan
a. Working session to develop plan goals
Before the working session continues, Zakas informs members Bruce Doig and Jon Paddol are
present. They are representatives of Parks & Rec. Dudley inquires if there will be a permanent
representative from the Parks and Rec who are willing to co-sit the committee permanently. Doig
explains at the moment there are no commission members able or willing to have permanent
placement on OSRC. This is a work in progress. Zakas resumes the working session for plan
goals Doig and Paddol weigh in per each goal coordinating with OSRC members.
Goal B3: Increasing the number of fields within the community.
Members seek Parks & Rec input. Per the survey the community would like to preserve and
maintain current fields as opposed to build newer fields. Doig confirms Parks & Rec received
similar feedback from their community members. Members discuss the presents fields in their
varied current conditions, which ones are used and are not. Doig informs members the budget
goal for field maintenance is $1.3 million repurposing or resurrecting playing fields as required
by need. Doig discusses the Briscoe school field hasn't been used in years. After the renovation
the hope is to revitalize the field and add amenities for the community to begin using again. Doig
mainly discusses soccer and lacrosse fields. Doig confirms the courts are in worse condition as
opposed to the fields. There is a huge demand for pickleball. Parks and Rec funding will
predominantly concentrate on court maintenance and the creation of new courts.
To update the goal Zakas will restructure it to focus on resurrecting and maintaining the existing
fields. Alden suggests adding"recreational areas" to expand the goal purpose and make it all
encompassing. Both committees share a common goal of expanding recreational areas and
increased funding. Paddol discusses the communities desire for a bike track pump track.
B5- Inventor.. /shy on the ADA capabilities and inventory of parks and open spaces.
Doig provides the updates, disclosing he was not able to complete a full ADA analysis. He hopes
to complete one in the near future. Zakas and Doig will coordinate with their respective data sets
and spreadsheets. They will determine which committee per the current inventory is responsible
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to report the status of ADA compliance at each park and open space. From there determinations
will be made for review on which parks qualify for OSRC attention and funding.
Members further discuss acquiring ADA grants for trails that would qualify for those funds.
Callaghan inquires for the ADA survey deadline. Members further discuss the ADA
requirements with Doig and continue proposing the best way to get these trails ADA assessed.
Goal C —Protect and acquire land in more urbanized areas in the city.
Doig suggests adding to the goal lots like the ones on Simon Street; the land in front/behind
Briscoe; and the lot next to old temple. Members continue fine tuning the wording. Callaghan
notes it might be worthwhile to split out the water front areas.
Sidebar: ? updates the committee. The application for CPC grant from Simon Street process
started today.
Goal D
Members determine this goal is acceptable as is and agree to keep the wording.
Goal E: Green Beverly and Clean Energy Advisory Committee.
Miller would like to defer this action item discussion until they meet with Erina Keefe,
Sustainability Director. Zakas points out the committee must complete these goals before the
Public meeting. However; agrees with Miller to reach out to those entities and individuals and
get their feedback, which can be incorporated into the goals.
Members suggest small edits and strike"E.Liii" due to redundancy. Members discuss striking
"E.Lv." as this is on the Master Plan. Alden notes there is no down side to keeping it for any
future programming that may come up and require grants/funding. Brewster concurs and offers
supportive comments. Members agree to keep it. Alden asks Doig if"E.Lvi" falls under Parks &
Rec as far as field management goes. Doig notes DPS controls field maintenance with herbicides
and pesticides. Zakas will follow up with DPS to see how field maintenance is conducted with
the herbicides and pesticides. Miller will provide contact information of the appropriate
individuals to further coordinate with to Zakas. Sharp inquires if any native species planting for
organic lawns and gardens are considered. Members agree to add planting of native plants to
"E.1.vi."
Members review E2 goal and action items. Members agree to strike"newspaper" from "E.2.ii."
and move"E.2.iii" to another goal section.
Goal F
Members note the goal wording has two different actions already discussed elsewhere in the
goals. Zakas suggests moving F1 to B3. Members review prior goals to determine areas of
redundancy. Dunne notes this goal is overarching and seems to coordinate with public and
private entities. Members discuss moving under goal B. Callaghan suggests leaving this is a
unique area of ambiguity as it may permit for opportunistic partnerships to acquire easement or
access to an easement. Paddol and members discuss exclusive situations, for example, the
Urqhardt School permitting trail users to park in the school soccer lot. Paddol offers comments
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on partnering with camps and outreach opportunities with volunteer groups, boy scouts' troops,
etc., to assist with open space clean up. Zakas suggests keeping"F.IT' and moving F.2. under
goal E action items.
Additional plan edits and suggestions.
Members complete the 2016 action plan edits. Member will now continue adding to the plan as
necessary.
Callaghan suggests Goal "G": identifying a funding source for OSRC. Mann notes this would be
a source directly from the city. A member of the public and former Conservation Commission
member, Robert Buchsbaum, suggested a funding source needed for open spaces. Mann stresses
the difference is to the city to have funds to maintain the land. Not to be confused with Goal A
which is to purchase land. Zakas suggests adding as an action item, "Secure funding for the
OSRC to use toward trail maintenance and improvement from the city". Mann reiterates that
point the funding is from the city budget, not a grant.
Miller and Doig circle back to funding and maintenance of public spaces. Doig notes these types
of funds usually come out of DPS funding. Parks & Rec does not have a large expendable
budget. Most services are out of DPS. Miller asks Doig for clarification. Doig explains DPS
funding. Sharp asks if DPS would have any projects on non-Beverly property. Members discuss
the finer points. Callaghan, asks does anyone know if the city were to sell the organic composts,
what that would generate for funding. Miller discusses a company that wants to do an audit of
where the city is selling or how they are using the compost. Miller also refers back to the Al goal
and Emily Lane garden way to verbiage of suitable soil for gardening and farming.
Mann brings up points of discussion, the differences in the 2016 plan vs 2021 plan. Being more
environmentally inclusive. Sharing information with the human rights committee. Members talk
about inclusivity. Example, adding trails in other languages, or QR codes to other languages.
Zakas suggests under goal B adding B.6 making open space and recreation areas more welcome
to the city's diverse community. Callaghan comments this ties in better with more DEI grants.
Callaghan notes the city website does not have diverse languages to multi ethnic users to
effectively navigate city services, documents, translation, work with non-English speaking
communities.
Members also discuss diverse housing options closer to the parks and open spaces. Anchor Point
I& II is the latest housing development along Sohier and Tozer Roads. Members express
concerns with opens spaces in the new development where children can safely access parks.
Norwood Pond is near, however there are safety concerns with children crossing heavily
trafficked streets. Zakas suggests organizing a list of places, like Apple Village,where these
areas are isolated and do not have good access to open spaces. Dudley requests adding Ward 3.
It's the most populated ward per capita with the least amount of access to open spaces. Paddol
recommends areas to look into where they may be potential spaces in these isolated areas, the
baseball fields near the Roller Palace,privately owned by Varian and the outer perimeter of the
Beverly Golf& Tennis Club to name a few.
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Zakas discusses the new topics of interest from the public survey: safety, climate, inclusion, and
environmental justice.
Zakas guides the members on the time allotment and flow of the upcoming Public Hearing.
5. Discuss Principal Items of Business
a. Community Preservation Committee—Representative Report
No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting.
b. Planning Board—Representative Report
No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting.
c. Harbor Management Authority Updates —Representative Report
No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting.
d. Conservation Commission—Representative Report
No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting.
e. Encroachment Updates
No updates at this time. Members will discuss at the next meeting.
f. Parcel Updates —additional details outlined in Zakas' staff report.
i. Green Street update
27 X— There are no updates at this time.
27A —There are no updates at this time.
ii. Congress Street—"Pocket Park"
There are no updates at this time.
iii. Gloucester Crossing
Simon Street—There are no updates at this time.
Beckford Street—There are no updates at this time.
iv. Norwood Pond update (NSMT)
There are no updates at this time.
V. Endicott College trails
There are no updates at this time.
vi. Pole Swamp Lane
There are no updates at this time.
i. Project Adventure update
There are no updates at this time.
6. Trails & Open Space Discussion
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a. rail Safety & Trail Guidance
There are no updates at this time.
b. New trail at Sally Milligan
There are no updates at this time.
7. Other Business
a. MassTrails Grant Funding
b. NOI for trail work—Discussion on next steps
c. Preston Place Lot
8. Adjournment
Callaghan moves to adjourn the meeting at 9:11 p.m. Sharp seconds. The motion carries 8-0.
Next Meeting: March 2, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.